Gayle Biden

Jean “Gayle” Biden (nee Watt) of North Vancouver, BC, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 14th, 2020, sharing her final hours with her family. 

She touched many lives and is lovingly remembered by her husband of 63 years Harry Biden; family of three children Dawn (Brad) Martin of Lethbridge AB, Dan (Alice) Biden of Calgary AB, Doug (Vivian) Biden of North Vancouver BC; two granddaughters Kim (Nick) Friedman of Lacey WA and Nicole (Jordan) Williams of Lethbridge AB; four great-grandchildren Colby, Amelia, Taya and Andrew; two brothers John (Donna) Watt of Calgary AB and Ted (Gladys) Watt of Regina SK; two brothers-in-law Len (Edna) Biden of Regina SK, and Stan Biden (Hilda Walsch)  of Regina SK; sister-in-law Sharon Cameron of Edmonton AB, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Gayle was born on March 16, 1933 in Sintaluta Saskatchewan during the Great Depression to a Scottish immigrant father who was a WW1 veteran and an English mother, Gayle grew up on a farm and lived in town during the winter months. For six years she attended the Qu'Appelle Diocesan School for Girls, an Anglican boarding school. Gayle was honoured to be the Head Girl during her 12th Grade.

Harry literally swept Gayle off her feet when they first met at a Sintaluta community dance and they married a year later in 1956.

Gayle and Harry lived in several cities during Harry's career with the CPR, including Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Kamloops, North Vancouver, Winnipeg and finally back to North Vancouver where they stayed and eventually retired. They enjoyed travelling and cruising, but then discovered Mesa, Arizona and the warm winters and the warm friendships there.

Gayle volunteered whenever there was a need and she had many interests; playing bridge (especially with Aunt Maude and Uncle Jack), golfing, gardening, curling, playing tennis and shuffleboard, crafting, sewing, painting, composting, baking and decorating for Christmas. Gayle was a good cook and loved to entertain friends and family. Dawn, Dan and Doug will miss her turkey pie. Her granddaughters will always remember baking chocolate chip cookies with Nana.

Gayle was always up for learning and tackling something new. She built a floor to ceiling indoor brick fireplace and she built a rock wall. She was known as the "Puzzle Lady" at Amica Edgemont Village in North Vancouver where she and Harry lived the past three years.

Gayle was a kind, thoughtful, loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be greatly missed!

The wonderful staff at Amica Edgemont Village helped make Gayle's final years healthy and enriched … with a special mention to Paz Dacanay who took Gayle under her wing and watched out for her.

Thank you very much to the kind doctors and nurses and staff at the Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver and at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Gayle's life is postponed until a time when there is less need for caution and social distancing. Gayle will be laid to rest in Wolseley Saskatchewan.

Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, 20 Eglinton Ave W #16, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8.

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